Blue Collar Muse

I’m going to break with what appears to be a rather large segment of the population and ask, “What’s the big deal over Tyson Chicken and the Union coming to an agreement over a holiday for their work force?”

Tyson and the Union representing workers at their Shelbyville, TN plant, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, reached a 5 year contract settement that included exchanging one of the plant’s traditionally observed holidays, Labor Day, for the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr celebrated each year at the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. This effects only the Shelbyville plant. It was done because the plant’s 1,200 member workforce contains around 700 Somali Muslims. They wanted the change and the union represented their desires to Tyson and an agreement was struck. In 5 years, they can vote again. I again ask, what’s the big deal?

I believe in allowing people the freedom to do as they please with their businesses. Tyson is not the government and is not constrained, Constitutionally or otherwise, from making whatever accomodations it sees fit to address the concerns of an increasingly diverse workforce. Every business in America was forced by the government to spend money to comply with the ADA a few years back. The government is implementing “No Smoking” practices against the will of many businesses around the country. These are great examples of behavior we should be outraged with. But being bent out of shape because a business went out of its way to accomodate the needs of a large section of its workforce? Is this really an issue we want to push as outrageous? Instead, shouldn’t we be championing corporate America’s willingness to be responsive to the needs of its workers? Shouldn’t we be using this as an example of management and Unions working together to address the concerns of Labor?

Much of the negative response to the situation centers around the idea that this is America and people who come here should celebrate American holidays. But there is nothing un-American about Eid al-Fitr. In fact, since Eid al-Fitr is a Muslim holiday, it is not patriotic or political in nature at all. It is a religious holiday. And what is more American than ensuring that the Freedom of Religion is permitted here? The holiday being replaced is Labor Day, a day set apart to honor workers in general and union workers in particular! If the majority of the workers in the plant decide they don’t want a holiday honoring their efforts, preferring instead a holiday honoring their faith; and, if the union will back them up on this, how is this un-American? It’s about as American as it gets!

I support Tyson’s right to choose their corporate course, but they also need to be prepared to deal with the consequences. If people decide to boycott their products because of the decision, then Tyson and the plant’s workers will suffer. Tyson and the workers may change their mind later and find it more expedient to go with Labor Day. That’s the market in action and that’s a process I support. I also support people’s right to choose to be offended by Tyson’s decision and to take whatever legal steps they want to express their displeasure. As with so many things, I may disagree with what you say but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it! I’d just much prefer you to have a good reason to believe the things you’re giving voice to.

And that’s the rub. For the life of me I cannot find a single good reason to oppose the agreement that Tyson, the union and the workers hammered out. I can, in fact, think of a single reason, but as I mentioned, it’s not a good one. The only reason for the objection that I can find is varying degrees of anti-Muslim sentiment. Don’t get me wrong. I’m as opposed as anyone to Muslims who even think it’s OK to kill infidels in the name of their faith, let alone those who actually do so. That’s an objection to a crime. But I’m not prepared to bash a faith or a factory because they make choices that are good for workers and good for wallets. That seems to me to be little more than a negative response to someone different from us expressing that difference. That has all the earmarks of prejudice.

If anyone has evidence the Somalis in Shelbyville are cooking up C-4 or prepping trucks with ANFO bombs to deliver along with their wings, now is the time to speak up. But if all you can find fault with is a group of refugees coming to America, working hard and practicing their faith, you might want to reconsider.  Many others have come here for those reasons over the years.  Thanksgiving, Christmas and Memorial Day are just a few of the holidays we observe on behalf of other Americans doing and defending the very same thing.

Blue Collar Muse

SEE ALSO:

Tyson Drops Labor Day Holiday for Eid al-Fitr at The Shelbyville Times Gazette

Tyson Foods Drops Labor Day for Muslim Holiday at A Disgruntled Republican

What is Wrong with Tyson Chicken? by Brian McMurphy at Six Meat Buffet

Tyson’s Pandering to Somalis at Shelbyville, TN Plant at Bear Creek Ledger

The Surrender of Secularism at A Sense of Events

Irony: Labor Day Nixed by a Union at Hear It From Us

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